African Union troops in Somalia facing funding shortfall

African Union troops fighting al-Qaeda-linked Islamists in the failed state of Somalia have a $10 million funding gap which has delayed the deployment of reinforcements and lifesaving equipment, officials said.

Senior commanders said on Saturday that the lack of cash is hampering recent advances against the Islamists, discouraging countries from sending troops and may have cost lives.

The shortfall comes as AU troops have taken control of the Somali capital from the Islamist al-Shabab militia for the first time since their mission began in 2007. Last month Kenyan troops crossed the border and opened a second front against al-Shabab, which has been weakened by a famine in its southern strongholds.

The AU mission had a budget of $472 million in 2011, but most of the money is taken up by wages, transport and operational costs. Countries that contribute troops to the force currently Uganda and Burundi are supposed to be paid from a U.N.-administered fund for equipment like tanks, armoured vehicles, ambulances, fuel trucks and even soap and bedding for soldiers. The rent helps pay to replace equipment destroyed in battle or worn down by the salty, sandy conditions. But neither Uganda nor Burundi have received money for their equipment since March and there is no money in the fund to pay them. So far, they are owed $10 million, said Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the spokesman for the AU force. The delays in paying for equipment have also discouraged other countries from contributing to the AU force, he said.

Other contributions

Burundi is supposed to send another 1,000 soldiers within weeks, and Djibouti should send more than 800 by the end of the year. Either Uganda or Sierra Leone should send more troops at the beginning of next year.

Uganda has also delayed sending four helicopters to Somalia because they say there is no cash to maintain them. The AU mission currently has no air support. Wounded soldiers had to be evacuated by road when scores of Burundian soldiers were killed and wounded in a battle last month.